6 Best Apps to Learn Sanskrit for Beginners and Beyond

*This article may contain affiliate links. For full information, please see the disclaimer here.

Meaning “perfected” or “refined”—indeed, Sanskrit is as elegant as it sounds. An ancestor of modern-day languages, the language bears historical, cultural, and religious significance that transcends the tests of time! 

Should you want to pick up a lesson or two, then check out these five best apps to learn Sanskrit:

Top picks

I highly suggest getting started with these:

• Play fun vocabulary games on uTalk
• Get in-depth lessons on Liberation Philology Sanskrit
• Meet with a personal tutor on italki or Preply

Top apps to learn Sanskrit

1. uTalk

Learn Sanskrit on uTalk

uTalk offers a fun and easy way to learn Sanskrit online with practical, real-life situations.

Ideal for expanding your vocabulary, this app teaches over 2500 words and phrases across 60+ topics. And if the idea of memorizing that many words scares you, don’t fret. The lessons come in the form of fun and challenging games, not boring drills.

Each of these words also comes with audio clips recorded by native speakers. This allows you to hear the correct pronunciation and accent for a comprehensive learning experience.

Why learn Sanskrit on uTalk:

• Game-based lessons
• Covers Sanskrit vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation
• Self-paced and engaging lessons

Pricing: Starts at $11.99/month. Unlock a special discount here!

Devices: iOS and Android

2. Liberation Philology Sanskrit

Extensive and engaging, Liberation Philology Sanskrit provides a wide range of lessons for students of any level!

Through its continuous multiple-choice test, you’ll learn the ropes of Sanskrit vocabulary and grammar (such as nouns, pronouns, and verbs) with ease. It also uses a spaced-repetition technique to reinforce your memory of certain topics. 

One of the best things about this app is that it works without WiFi, which is a major plus if you’re studying on the go. Moreover, all Sanskrit texts can be displayed in the Devanagari script or romanized, depending on your preference!

Why learn Sanskrit on Liberation Philology:

• Interactive multiple-choice tests 
• Includes 320 vocabulary levels and grammar lessons
• Great Sanskrit learning app for beginners and up

Pricing: Get full access at $5.49. 

Devices: iOS and Android

3. Language Curry

Learn Sanskrit on Language Curry

If you’re looking for a cool way to dive into Sanskrit and other awesome Indian languages, you should check out Language Curry. This app features lessons that are short and sweet, so you can easily squeeze them into your day without feeling overwhelmed.

What’s really neat is that Language Curry isn’t just about memorizing words. It also weaves in little snippets about Indian culture, which makes the whole learning experience way more engaging and helps you connect with the language on a deeper level.

Plus, it makes grammar less scary with a conversational approach, which is a big win!

Why learn Sanskrit on Language Curry:

• Bite-sized, gamified lessons
• Cultural insights for contextual learning
• Option to learn from live tutors

Pricing: Free access to some content. Starts from $2.40/month for premium access.

Devices: iOS and Android

4. italki 

Sanskrit is an old and complex language, honing deep ties to literary and religious texts. Some would even say that it’s the “mother of all languages”! 

Thus, to fully comprehend Sanskrit, you ought to work with reliable sources of information—like a proper language tutor to start! And this is where italki comes in. 

Featuring community and professional instructors, this app lets you arrange 1-on-1 online sessions and customize an affordable lesson plan! By viewing their introduction videos and reading their reviews, you’ll surely find the Sanskrit teacher of your dreams. 

Alternatively, you could check out Preply for more Sanskrit teachers.

Why learn Sanskrit on italki:

• Wide array of community and professional tutors
• Easily arrange online classes in the italki Virtual Classroom or Skype
• Discounted trial lessons for new users

Pricing: There are a handful of Sanskrit teachers you could choose from, their rates starting at $6/hour. Discounted rates are also available.

Devices: iOS and Android

5. Learn Sanskrit. Speak Sanskrit. Study Sanskrit. by Bluebird Languages

Bluebird Language’s course is loaded with pre-recorded tutorials and quizzes to personalize your studies. 

From the top 100 verbs to 2,000 of Sanskrit’s high-frequency words—over here, there’s certainly a lot for you to learn! Lasting between 15-45 minutes, each lesson is designed to polish your vocabulary, grammar, and real-life conversation skills for long-term retention.

On another note, users found some inconsistencies with the app’s definition and pronunciation of Sanskrit words; so, it’s best to partner this with a secondary resource!

Why learn Sanskrit on Bluebird Languages:

• Curate your vocabulary and grammar lessons
• Comes with 2,000 quizzes with statistics
• Learn Sanskrit from any of its 146 narration languages

Pricing: It’s free! In-app purchases start at $3.99/item.

Devices: iOS (all languages) and Android (Sanskrit only)

6. Drops

For short and fun-filled vocabulary lessons, Drops is a great place to start!

This course is titled “Sanskrit for Yoga”, meaning that the language will be taught alongside basic yoga asanas (or “positions”); so, whether you’re going on a retreat or simply want to expand your studies—this app works perfectly, either way!

With its stunning visuals, high-quality audio, and game-like appeal, this app will improve your reading and writing skills in just 5 minutes a day. Simply tap, swipe, and play through its quizzes, and you’re well on your way to mastering Sanskrit vocabulary!

Why learn Sanskrit on Drops:

• Incorporates core lessons with yoga asanas
• Develops visual associations to common words and phrases
• Playful and interactive tutorials 

Pricing: Drops is free for 5 minutes a day. Subscribe to the Pro version to get unlimited playtime.

Devices: iOS and Android

FAQs about learning Sanskrit

Where is Sanskrit used?

Like Latin, the number of people who use Sanskrit has been dwindling through the years, with less than 1% of Indians speaking the language. In fact, it’s only being offered as an optional course in some schools.

(There also have been controversies regarding the promotion of said language, so it’s a bit difficult to gauge how many people actually use it.)

Regardless, even today, Sanskrit remains significant to various religions and literary works. It is likewise part of the 22 official languages of India.

Is Sanskrit easy to learn?

Given its age and breadth, Sanskrit might be hard to learn—but it’s not impossible. For one, it uses the Devanagari script, which may challenge English speakers. Its word structure, grammar rules, and pronunciation are pretty difficult as well.

(That being said, knowing Hindi can give you an advantage in terms of reading, but Sanskrit’s vocabulary and grammar are quite different!)

Either way, there are a lot of good reasons to study Sanskrit, so don’t be discouraged!

Why should I learn Sanskrit?

Firstly, if you take part in religious functions—particularly those in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism—then learning this would deepen your immersion.

Secondly, Sanskrit has largely influenced various literary works, such as the Rāmāyana and Mahābhārata. Knowing this language will help you understand these to a greater extent.

Thirdly, Sanskrit is also used when reading yoga asanas—so, in one way, studying this will make your sessions more meaningful!

What is the best Sanskrit learning app?

Since Sanskrit is a complex language, expect to use more than one app and/or resource. 

For beginners, uTalk is the best app to learn Sanskrit vocabulary. Its visually appealing quizzes and audio support will definitely get your game face on!

For a fair price, you could also install Liberation Philology Sanskrit to get more practice or find a tutor on italki to facilitate your studies.

Is Sanskrit in Duolingo?

Sanskrit isn’t on Duolingo. If you’re vying for playful and dynamic lessons, then head on over to uTalk instead. You could pair this with Drops and Bluebird Languages for additional resources.

Is Sanskrit in Rosetta Stone?

Sadly, Rosetta Stone doesn’t offer Sanskrit either. Should you want a simple yet extensive course, Liberation Philology Sanskrit will suit you best. In addition, you could get personalized lessons from a Sanskrit tutor on italki or Preply!

What is the best way to learn Sanskrit?

Before anything, you must first decide on which form of Sanskrit you’ll be studying. (Literary-wise, Sanskrit can be classified into its Vedic and Classical forms.)

Once you’ve figured this out, you should learn how to read the Devanagari script, so that you’ll have an easier time learning vocabulary and grammar. 

It’ll also be helpful if you find yourself a personal tutor since they could help you navigate the language’s intricacies. And of course, combining these lessons with Sanskrit books would deepen your understanding!

Top apps to learn Sanskrit – Pin it!